Agriculture: BSE

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much of the £17 million to be saved on transmissible spongiform encephalopathy surveillance will be due to a more risk-based approach to monitoring, as reported in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' Autumn Performance Report 2009.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Savings that relate to a more risk-based approach to monitoring are as follows:
	the transfer to industry of responsibility for, and cost of, collection and disposal of fallen cattle that require BSE testing from January 2009 has enabled us further to reduce Rural Payment Agency (RPA) TSE budgets by £4.6 million in 2010-11;as a result of the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) Optimisation Project, which seeks to identify best practice and opportunities for optimising the use of MHS resources, we have identified savings of over £2 million in 2010-11; andthe increase in the age threshold for BSE testing and revision of risk basis for feed sampling has enabled us to reduce Veterinary Laboratory Agency (VLA) TSE contracts by over £1 million in 2010-11.

Agriculture: Genetically Modified Crops

The Countess of Mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government on what basis they conclude that Roundup residues are not present in genetically modified products derived from Roundup Ready varieties and that they are harmless to animals and humans.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Residues of Roundup (active substance glyphosate) may be present in products derived from some Roundup Ready crop varieties as a result of treatment with this herbicide. The potential effects of these residues arising from the use of the herbicide in the European Union (EU) are considered under legislation concerning the placing on the market of plant protection products. Provided Roundup is applied in accordance with conditions of authorisation any residues present will be below levels that may cause harm to animals and humans.
	Other EU legislation sets maximum residue levels (MRLs) in food and feed based on the conditions of authorisation of all pesticides used in the EU. MRLs are also set to the same standards for residues of pesticides in imported food and feed. MRLs for glyphosate have been agreed for a range of products including dry pulses, oilseeds and cereals. This legislation also establishes an EU programme for monitoring compliance with these MRLs.

Agriculture: Genetically Modified Crops

The Countess of Mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Thornton on 10 March (WA 61), what contact they or their advisers have had with the authors of the 2009 American Academy of Environmental Medicine paper on genetically modified food safety; and what steps they have taken to test the view of European Food Standards Authority and the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes that the six cited papers "do not provide evidence of harm."

Baroness Thornton: The American Academy of Environmental Medicine published its position paper on genetically modified foods in May 2009 and the Government have had no contact with the authors of this paper. Member of the Food Standards Agency's advisory committees and members of the panels established by the European Food Standards Agency are appointed by open competition and on the basis of their expertise in the topics they are advising on. I have no reason to doubt their conclusions on these papers.

Agriculture: Genetically Modified Crops

The Countess of Mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government which repeat feeding experiments they have commissioned for assessing the findings of Pusztai and Ewen relating to genetically modified potatoes, Emarkova relating to genetically modified soy, and Velemirov relating to genetically modified maize.

Baroness Thornton: The Government have not commissioned any repeat feeding experiments to assess the findings of these three studies.

Agriculture: High Lysine Maize

The Countess of Mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Food Standards Agency did not examine the experiments reported in the scientific dossiers in support of the Remessen genetically modified high-lysine maize following defects being identified by other European Union member states.

Baroness Thornton: I refer the noble Countess to the Answer I gave on 8 March 2010 (Official Report, col. WA 1).
	The Food Standards Agency does not routinely duplicate the detailed assessments carried out by the European Food Safety Authority, which is the body with statutory responsibility for conducting risk assessments in various areas of European Union food legislation, including applications for authorisation of genetically modified food and feed.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Statement by Baroness Thornton on 4 March (WS 184), what were the services provided to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) by Media Strategy or Hanover Communications from April 2002 to March 2009; why the services were provided; and whether the HFEA's head of inspection received similar financial support for the authority's regulatory role during that time.

Baroness Thornton: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that over the period April 2002 to March 2009 the service provided by the company Media Strategy, later named Hanover Communications, supplemented the work of the authority's communications team. This included advice about crisis management, preparation for giving oral evidence to a Select Committee and a stakeholder audit.
	The HFEA's head of inspection did not receive similar financial support for the authority's regulatory role during that time.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Thornton on 15 March (WA 123), what reference the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's records of its annual conference on 15 March 2005 made to Trish Davies' comments about "category A incidents" and the solution proposed by Dr Stephen Troup.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Thornton on 15 March (WA 123), whether the solution proposed by Dr Stephen Troup at the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's annual conference on 15 March 2005 involved "information entered into electronic system and allocation of barcode/RFID tag", as described in the seventh edition of the authority's code of practice.

Baroness Thornton: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that it has no record of comments made at its annual conference on 15 March 2005.
	The HFEA has also advised that Dr Stephen Troup was a member of an expert group set up by the authority to consider the safety of new technologies (SANT). In 2005 SANT made recommendations to a committee of the HFEA regarding the safety and use of barcoding and radio frequency identification in electronic witnessing. These recommendations subsequently formed part a review of witnessing in 2006, the outcomes of which were included in the seventh edition of the HFEA's Code of Practice. The HFEA continues to monitor the use of electronic witnessing in licensed centres, with a view to informing any future policy review of this area.

Energy: Efficiency

Lord Teverson: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many households have had works funded by the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target scheme.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Almost five million insulation measures (ie cavity wall, loft and solid wall insulation) were installed with subsidy under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target by December 2009. We expect these measures to be benefiting some four million households. A number of other households have also benefited from wider low carbon measures such as heatpumps, solar water heating and fuel switching (eg a new gas central heating system typically replacing oil or coal).

Energy: Efficiency

Lord Teverson: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make proposals regarding financial transparency in the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target scheme, particularly in relation to energy suppliers and scheme participants; and, if so when.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Government believe that improving the transparency of the costs falling to suppliers from meeting their supplier obligation and how they pass these costs onto consumers is critical. The Government's Warm Homes, Greener Homes strategy published in early March set out the importance of greater transparency in any post 2013 energy company obligation, including around cost information. We continue to develop the detail of this arrangement, and will pursue new powers as necessary.

Energy: Efficiency

Lord Teverson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure consumers are informed of how much they are paying towards the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target as a part of their tariff.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Government support environmental information being made available to customers. Improved transparency could help generate additional demand for energy efficiency measures and so help contribute to our energy and climate ambitions as well as reduce the costs associated with finding customers under schemes like CERT. Suppliers are already required to provide a range of information on bills and Ofgem produces a factsheet explaining the costs that make up household energy bills which includes an estimate of the per household cost of environmental programmes.

Energy: Efficiency

Lord Teverson: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have undertaken research of consumers' awareness of the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target; and, if so, where such research is published.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Government are taking a number of steps to ensure consumers are assisted in understanding the support available to them. The Government support a one stop shop through the Energy Saving Trust which provides free advice to consumers on energy saving as well as providing easy access to the full range of Carbon Emission Reduction Target offers. This is supported by the Government's overarching Act On CO2 marketing campaign which demonstrates the benefits of the energy saving measures offered under the Carbon Emission Reduction Target as part of coverage in national television, press, radio and online. We have recently conducted qualitative research among consumers to help deepen our understanding of attitudes, behaviours, motivations and barriers for home insulation. Longer term, we have set out our intention as part of the Warm Homes, Greener Homes strategy to continue to improve and simplify consumer access to, and use of, energy saving information. This will combine with effective branding and marketing to build awareness and trust in the available products and services.

Fishing: Stock

Lord Hunt of Chesterton: To ask Her Majesty's Government which of Europe's fish stocks have quotas above the safe biological level determined by scientists; and for which stocks they lack the scientific evidence to make such an assessment.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Of the 145 fish stocks in the European waters of the Atlantic and neighbouring seas for which the European Commission proposed total allowable catches (TACs) for 2010, there were 111 for which either no new scientific advice was available or the scientific evidence was considered insufficient to determine the true state of the stock. A table listing these has been deposited in the House Library. The stocks that fall into these categories will vary from year to year and the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF), which reviews the scientific assessments of them, can still provide advice to the European Commission on a precautionary basis, using historic data.
	TAC areas do not always correspond to the areas covered by the biological stocks, and vice versa. It is not therefore straightforward to compare the scientific advice with the subsequent TACs. In addition, complete information on TACs for some stocks shared with Norway is not yet fully available. With those caveats these represent the stocks where the agreed TAC for 2010 exceeds the level advised by scientists. A table listing them has been deposited in the House Library.

Food: Labelling

Lord Hunt of Wirral: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Mr Stephen Byers has spoken to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Lord Mandelson, about food labelling regulations; and, if so, what was (a) the date on which the contact took place, and (b) the nature of the contact.

Lord Mandelson: I have had no discussion with Mr Stephen Byers about food labelling.

Health: Bispenol Exposure

Lord Harrison: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 15 June 2009 (WA 178-9), what assessment they have made of the United States Food and Drug Administration's recent assessment of the potential effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on the brain, behaviour and prostate gland in foetuses, infants and young children; and whether they will re-examine their position on the use of BPA.

Baroness Thornton: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) continues to work closely with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Commission to ensure the safety of food contact products containing bisphenol A (BPA), and that this is kept under review.
	The EFSA is currently assessing recent studies on BPA, including those on neuro-developmental effects and the FSA will be participating in a meeting arranged by EFSA later this month.
	It is expected that the EFSA opinion will be published in May. The FSA will study this opinion in detail and revise its position if it is considered necessary in the interests of consumer safety.

Health: Dentistry

Baroness Masham of Ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to encourage other primary care trusts to adopt the model used by the Residential Oral Care Sheffield scheme.

Baroness Thornton: The Sheffield scheme is an excellent example of good practice developed to meet the oral health needs of people who may not have ready access to high street National Health Service dental practices. It was commended as a "case scenario" in Meeting the Challenges of Oral Health for Older People: A Strategic Review which we funded the Gerodontology Association to produce in 2005. We will look for further opportunities to draw the attention of commissioners of primary care dental services to the scheme.

Health: Diabetes

Lord Morris of Aberavon: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much funding they have given to medical research into type 1 diabetes in each of the past 10 years.

Baroness Thornton: The information requested is not available.
	Both the department and the Medical Research Council invest in diabetes research. The department's National Institute for Health Research, for example, is currently providing infrastructure support for 88 studies specifically concerned with type 1 diabetes via the diabetes clinical research network formed in 2005.

Health: Diabetes

Lord Morris of Aberavon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the ratio of specialist diabetes nurses to the number of people with type 1 diabetes in the United Kingdom.

Baroness Thornton: The annual National Health Service workforce census does not separately identify diabetes specialist nurses. It is therefore not possible to provide the ratio of diabetes specialist nurses to patients with type 1 diabetes. The Government have supported the development of a range of specialist roles within nursing.

Health: Drug Tariff Part IX

Lord Morris of Manchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the British Healthcare Trades Association about variations in the provision of stoma and incontinence appliances by Primary Care Trusts under Part IX of the Drug Tariff; and what action they are taking on the matter.

Baroness Thornton: The department is in ongoing dialogue with industry, industry trade federations (including the British Healthcare Trades Association), collaborative procurement hubs and primary care trusts (PCTs) over the use of local tenders and product formularies for products and services covered by Part IX of the Drug Tariff. The aim of this dialogue is to agree clear guidance for PCTs on this matter.

Health: Isle of Man

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what will be the arrangements for healthcare for United Kingdom residents on holiday on the Isle of Man from 1 April.

Baroness Thornton: The United Kingdom and Isle of Man Governments have agreed to defer the termination of the current reciprocal healthcare agreement by six months. During this period, the arrangements will remain unchanged with immediately necessary healthcare, while on a temporary visit, being provided free of charge.

Homelessness

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many hostel beds are available for those under 18 who have run away from home or care.

Baroness Morgan of Drefelin: Provision of emergency accommodation for young people who have run away from home or care is the responsibility of local authorities, and my department does not hold information about the type and capacity of provision available locally.

Homelessness

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recommendations the cross-Government Working Group For Young People who run away from home has made in the past two years; and how many of them have been acted upon.

Baroness Morgan of Drefelin: The cross-Government Young Runaways Working Group was not constituted to make recommendations to the Government but was closely involved in the development of the Young Runaways Action Plan which was published in June 2008. Since then, the working group has continued to meet every three to four months to steer the implementation of the plan.

House of Lords: Members' Children

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: To ask the Chairman of Committees why there are different provisions for a Member's eldest child and a Member's eldest son (where the right has previously been exercised) to watch the proceedings of the House of Lords from the steps of the throne, as set out on page 19 of the January 2010 edition of the Handbook on facilities and services for Members.

Lord Brabazon of Tara: Until 2000, the eldest sons of Peers of Parliament were traditionally permitted to sit on the steps of the Throne. The practice was changed as a result of the following recommendation made in the 4th Report from the House of Lords Offices Committee, Session 1999-2000:
	1. Steps of the Throne
	The Committee has considered the four categories of heirs to peerages currently allowed to sit on the Steps of the Throne:
	eldest sons of Peers of Parliament;eldest daughters or grand-daughters of such Peers when heiresses presumptive;grandsons of such Peers when heirs apparent;eldest sons of those who have disclaimed their peerage.
	In the case of hereditary peerages, these categories all assumed that those exercising the right would eventually become Members of the House. That is no longer true, except as the result of a by-election to become one of the 90 hereditary Peers who remain Members of the House. The chances of the eldest son, daughter or grandchild of a hereditary Peer who had been a Member of the House being elected would be uncertain, though not impossible.
	As the original rationale for the four categories no longer applies, the Committee considers that in future the privilege should be granted to the eldest child of a Peer of Parliament, without regard to gender. The Committee was, however, mindful of the need to avoid any unfairness to eldest sons who had previously exercised their right to sit on the Steps of the Throne but who have older sisters, and therefore recommends that the privilege be granted to:
	"the eldest child of a Peer of Parliament (or the eldest son where the right has been previously exercised)".
	The House agreed the committee's report on 27 March 2000 without a vote.

Immigration

Lord Bates: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the average annual net immigration in each year since 1997, according to household projections.

Baroness Crawley: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Media: Women's Magazines

Baroness Gibson of Market Rasen: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to work with women's magazines to inform women about healthy eating and keeping to a healthy weight.

Baroness Thornton: The department's Change4Life campaign began last year with a focus on families with children aged 5-11. In February this year, the campaign was extended to cover adults in the 45-64 age group.
	The Change4Life marketing strategy is to use the most effective and relevant communication channels to target our audiences. While the marketing strategy for the adults campaign does not include advertisements in women's magazines, we do target them via public relations to gain editorial content and media partnerships.
	The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has also taken a number of steps to work with women's magazines. These magazines have been a key media channel in all the agency's healthier eating related advertising campaigns. The FSA has placed both advertisements and advertorials covering a wide range of healthier eating topics such as salt, saturated fat, labelling, cooking/recipes and teen healthy eating. Women's magazines are also a key target for the agency's public relations activity on a wide range of diet and health issues.

Medical Research Council: PACE Trials

The Countess of Mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much funding was provided by the Department for Work and Pensions for the Medical Research Council's PACE Trials; from whom they received a request for funding; who authorised the release of funds; and whether the department has funded any other MRC research projects.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: A sum of £90,000, authorised by the then chief medical adviser to the Department for Work and Pensions, was made available as a contribution from the department to the PACE study. It has not been possible to confirm from records the source of the original request. The department's records dating back to 2004 do not show that we have used the Medical Research Council as a supplier of research in that time. Information from before 2004 could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

NHS: Litigation

Lord McColl of Dulwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many cases of clinical negligence against the National Health Service funded by conditional fee agreements in each of the past five years were closed; in how many such cases damages were paid, whether by a settlement or award by a court; and, in cases where damages were paid, what were (a) the costs of defending the cases, (b) the legal costs paid to the claimants (including (1) base costs, and (2) success fees), and (c) the amounts paid in after the event insurance premiums.

Baroness Thornton: The information requested was provided by the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) and is in the following table. With regard to claimants' costs, the NHSLA negotiates with claimant legal teams in order to bring costs down, and a final global figure is agreed on claimant costs on each claim. The NHSLA is therefore unable to provide a breakdown of this figure.
	
		
			 Number of claims closed where claim was funded by Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) 
			 CFA claims closed with damages 
			 Year of Closure Number of CFA Claims Closed Number of Claims Damages Paid (£) Defence Costs Paid (£) Claimant Costs Paid (£) 
			 2004-05 233 151 4,551,050 886,720 2,084,936 
			 2005-06 861 625 31,892,845 5,177,915 14,448,748 
			 2006-07 1,142 799 46,973,706 7,579,297 22,640,640 
			 2007-08 1,559 1,127 62,559,320 10,596,148 37,934,943 
			 2008-09 1,579 1,120 68,841,494 9,828,907 38,888,773 
			 Total 5,374 3,822 214,818,415 34,068,986 115,998,040

NHS: Staff

Lord Burnett: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many NHS staff have been (a) dismissed, and (b) made compulsorily redundant, in each year since 1997.

Baroness Thornton: Information on the number of staff dismissals is not collected centrally.
	Since 2006-07, a collection outlining redundancies within the National Health Service has been carried out by the department. The following table outlines the results of this collection. Data prior to 2006-07 are not collected.
	
		
			 Financial Year Total number of compulsory redundancies in the NHS in England 
			 2006-07 2,330 
			 2007-08 2,223 
			 2008-09 927

NHS: Staff

Lord Burnett: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many chief executives of (a) strategic health authorities, (b) foundation trusts, (c) primary care trusts, and (d) other NHS trusts, have been recruited from (1) outside the NHS, and (2) the private sector.

Baroness Thornton: Information on the number of chief executives recruited from either outside the National Health Service or the private sector is not collated centrally.

NHS: Staff

Lord Burnett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the total continuous NHS service of each chief executive of (a) strategic health authorities, (b) foundation trusts, (c) primary care trusts, and (d) other NHS trusts.

Baroness Thornton: This information is not collated. Information on continuous service of chief executives will be held by individual organisations.

NHS: Staff

Lord Burnett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the existing and proposed procedures for (a) dismissing NHS staff, and (b) making compulsory redundancies of NHS staff; and what compensation (including pensions) is payable as a result.

Baroness Thornton: National Health Service staff work for independent and autonomous employer organisations. They are responsible for making decisions on the dismissal of staff but are expected to do so in line with current employment law and human resource good practice. The compensation they receive will normally be dictated by the contractual arrangements in place between employee and employer. Any extra contractual payments are subject to Treasury approval.
	Redundancy payments to NHS staff are made in line with the arrangements set out in Section 16 of the Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook. These came into force from 1 October 2006. At the same time changes were made to the National Health Service (Compensation for Premature Retirement) Regulations 2002 and the National Health Service Pension Scheme Regulations 1995. These were also negotiated in partnership with the NHS trade unions. Under these arrangements, the standard redundancy terms are one month's pay per year of reckonable service up to a maximum of 24 months pay. Members aged over the minimum pension age may choose to use their redundancy payment to pay for their retirement pension to be paid on redundancy without reduction. The previous redundancy arrangements involving enhancements of service of up to 10 years are being phased out and will cease to apply completely from October 2011.
	A further form of early retirement available is retirement in the interests of the service where the employer pays for the cost of the members retiring without a reduction for early payment of pension.
	Section 16 of the Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook makes clear that before making staff redundant employers should seek suitable alternative employment either in their own organisation or with another NHS employer.

NHS: Stress

Lord Burnett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what procedures are in place to monitor overwork and stress amongst clinicians and senior managers in the National Health Service; and what action is taken to safeguard against such overwork and treat such stress.

Baroness Thornton: The National Health Service has been working for many years to improve the work/life balance and well-being of their staff, using tools such as the Improving Working Lives accreditation scheme (2000), and NHS Employers' The healthy workplaces handbook (2007). The recommendations of Dr Steve Boorman's independent review (November 2009) into NHS staff Health and Well-being are currently being implemented and the NHS Constitution includes a pledge to provide support and opportunities for staff to maintain their health, well-being and safety. The annual staff survey, which goes to all NHS organisations, now also includes questions specifically on health and well-being.

Northern Ireland: Bill of Rights

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: To ask Her Majesty's Government which organisations, bodies, agencies or others have requested an extension to the period for consultation on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland; and what were the reasons given for such requests.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: Specific requests for an extension to the consultation period were sought from the following organisations:
	Children's Law Centre/Save the Children (acting jointly),Committee on the Administration of Justice, Community Relations Council,Human Rights Consortium, Participation and the Practice of Rights Project, andUNISON.
	Some organisations sought extensions to allow time to agree responses internally while others claimed that the initial consultation period did not give sufficient consideration to the Christmas break. Criticism of the length of the consultation period was also expressed by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities and Women's Centres Regional Partnership.
	On 24 February the Secretary of State announced an extension of the consultation period until 31 March 2010.

Northern Ireland: Bill of Rights

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the chair of the Bill of Rights Forum, Mr Chris Sidoti, has been engaged by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; if, so, in what capacity; at what cost; and whether the Northern Ireland Office was consulted on the matter.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) met travel, subsistence and accommodation costs for Mr Sidoti in his capacity as former chair of the Bill of Rights Forum to attend various roundtable discussions and workshops in relation to work on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. The commission met the costs using external funding.
	The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) was consulted on the proposals to access external funding. This was approved by the Secretary of State, which included £17,000 for "roundtable discussions, including venue hire, flights and accommodation for participants from outside Northern Ireland". Full details of the proposals are available in the Library of the House.

Northern Ireland: Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will place in the Library of the House all correspondence they had with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in February 2010.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: All ministerial and official letters between the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) in February 2010 will be placed in the Library of the House.
	These are:
	letter dated 1 February 2010 from the Deputy Director, Rights, Elections and Legacy Division to the chief executive of the NIHRC in relation to the Commission's 2010-11 budget allocation. (officials' names redacted);letter dated 3 February 2010 from the Chief Executive of the NIHRC to the head of Human Rights and Equality Unit (NIO) regarding proposals to regrade staff posts in the NIHRC following a job evaluation. (official's name redacted); letter of thanks dated 15 February 2010 from the Chief Commissioner of the NIHRC to Paul Goggins;letter dated 15 February 2010 from the Chief Commissioner of the NIHRC to Paul Goggins regarding the accommodation of under 18 year-old boys in Hydebank Wood young offender centre;letter dated 19 February 2010 from Paul Goggins' private office acknowledging receipt of correspondence from the Chief Commissioner of the NIHRC. (official's name redacted);letter dated 23 February 2010 from the Permanent Secretary of the NIO to the Chief Commissioner of the NIHRC regarding the commission's budget and request for ministerial meeting; andletter dated 24 February 2010 from the Chief Commissioner of the NIHRC to the Permanent Secretary of the NIO regarding the commission's 2010-11 budget allocation.

People Trafficking

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are consulting ECPAT UK on methods for preventing children suspected of being trafficked from disappearing from care.

Baroness Morgan of Drefelin: We are not currently consulting with ECPAT UK.
	On July 1st 2009, we published new statutory guidance on children who run away and go missing from home or care. This sets out the measures local authorities must take whenever a child that they look after goes missing from their care placement and includes specific information about managing support for especially vulnerable groups of looked after children-such as those asylum seeking children who may have been trafficked into the UK.

Powers of Entry etc. Bill [HL]

Lord Selsdon: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 14 November 2007 (WA 25), under which Acts and secondary legislation listed in the Schedule to the Powers of Entry etc. Bill [HL] officials of the Wales Office and of public or private bodies answerable to the Secretary of State for Wales or otherwise exercising powers of entry can enter and search the homes or business premises of United Kingdom citizens.

Lord Davies of Oldham: No officials, public or private bodies answerable to the Secretary of State have powers of entry.

Renewables Obligation Order 2009 (SI 2009/785)

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the outcomes of calculations under regulation 30A(5) of the Renewables Obligation Order 2009 (SI 2009/785) (as inserted by regulation 9 of the draft Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order 2010) will be required to be published for each relevant generating station; and whether the operation of the formula will be reviewed.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Ofgem publishes details of the number of ROCs issued to accredited generating stations each month on the ROC Register at https://www.renewablesandchp.ofgem.gov.uk/.
	The formula for calculating how many ROCs will be issued for additional capacity has been extensively consulted on with industry. We will consider any evidence that it is not working effectively.

Roads: Litter Collection

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government which companies have contracts with the Highways Agency for litter collection from roads in England; what are the start and end dates of each such contract; and what geographical areas they cover.

Lord Adonis: The Highways Agency is responsible for litter clearance on motorways. Local authorities have responsibility for litter clearance on all other roads, including most all-purpose trunk roads.
	The companies contracted by the Highways Agency to collect litter on the strategic road network, the geographical areas covered by those contracts and the contract start and end dates are listed in the table below:
	
		
			 Type of Contract Name of the Service Provider (as appears on the contract) Geographical Area covered by Contract (either in counties or specific stretch of road) Start Date of Contract End Date of Contract 
			 MAC Enterprise Mouchel (formerly Accord MP) Cornwall and Devon 22/3/2006 03/07/10 
			 MAC EnterpriseMouchel Cornwall and Devon 04/7/2010 03/7/2015 
			 EMAC Interroute (Raynesway/Serco/Mott MacDonald) Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Avon 24/12/2004 31/06/2011 
			 MAC Enterprisemouchel Hampshire, Surrey, Berks, Oxfordshire, Dorset (part), Wiltshire, Buckinghamshire (part) 03/2008 08/2013 
			 MAC Balfour Beatty/Mott MacDonald Kent, Surrey, West & East Sussex 03/2009 09/2014 
			 MAC Atkins Ltd Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Peterborough 01/06/2008 31/05/2013 
			 MAC Carillion WSP Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Suffolk (part) 01/09/2008 31/08/2013 
			 MAC A-One+ (Colas/Halcrow/Costain JV) Derbyshire, Leics, Lincs, Northants, Notts, Rutland, Warwicks (part), Oxfordshire (part) 01/07/2009 30/06/2014 
			 MAC Amey LG Ltd Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffs, Warwicks (part), West Midlands, Worcestershire 01/07/2009 30/06/2014 
			 MAC Aone+ (Halcrow/Colas/Costain) Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside and parts of Lancashire 05/11/2007 04/11/2012 
			 MAC Aone+ (Halcrow/Colas/Costain) Yorkshire and Humberside Ports Motorways 01/10/2009 30/09/2014 
			 MAC Amey Mouchel Cumbria, Lancashire (part) 01/07/2003 30/06/2010 
			 MAC Enterprise Mouchel Cumbria, Lancashire (part) 01/07/2010 30/06/2015 
			 MAC A-one Integrated Highway Services Durham, Northumberland, North Yorkshire, Tyne & Wear 01/07/2003 30/06/2010 
			 MAC A-one + (Halcrow/Colas/Costain) Durham, Northumberland, North Yorkshire, Tyne & Wear 01/07/2010 30/06/2015 
			 DBFO Connect A30/A35 Ltd A30 from Exeter to Bere Regis 01/101996 30/03/2026 
			 DBFO Road Management Services (Gloucester) Ltd A419/A417 Swindon to Gloucester 01/04/1996 31/3/2026 
			 DBFO Connect+ M25 (incl associated link roads, Dartford Tunnel, + stubs and tails from M25 to GLA boundary) 13/09/2009 19/05/2039 
			 DBFO Sheppey Route Limited A249 Stockbury to Sheerness 04/2004 19/02/2034 
			 DBFO Road Management Systems A1(M) Alconbury to Peterborough 01/04/1996 31/03/2026 
			 DBFO UK Highways M40 Ltd M40 Junctions 1-15 (Denham to Warwick) 06/01/1997 05/01/2027 
			 DBFO Roadlink Ltd A69 Newcastle to Carlisle 01/04/1996 01/04/2026 
			 DBFO Connect A1 - M1 Ltd M1-A1 Link (Lofthouse to Bramham) 01/04/1996 01/04/2026 
			 DBFO Autolink A19/A168 Dishforth to Tyne Tunnel 24/02/1997 24/02/2027 
			 DBFO Road Management Services (Darrington) Ltd A1 Darrington to Dishforth 13/02/2003 13/02/2036 
			 DBFO Connect A50 Ltd A50/A564 Stoke to Derby 1/07/1996 30/06/2026 
			 PFI Midland Expressway Ltd (MEL) M6 Toll 28/02/1992 2054 
			 PFI Severn River Crossing PLC M4/M49 Severn Crossings 10/1990 2017 
		
	
	Key:
	MAC-Managing Agent Contract
	DBFO-Design Build Finance and Operate
	EMAC-Enhanced Managing Agent Contract
	PFI-Private Finance Initiative

Rural Payments Agency

Baroness Byford: To ask Her Majesty's Government in cases where the Rural Payments Agency computer system calculates an acreage of a farm and Rural Payments Agency staff agree a different figure submitted by the former, why the Agency does not make an interim payment.

Lord Davies of Oldham: EC Regulation 73/2009, which governs the single payment scheme, prevents any interim payment being made unless the claim has been fully validated, including checks against the Rural Land Register (RLR).
	If the farmer has provided updated mapping information, the RLR must be amended before that validation can then take place and before payment can be made.
	With the EC requirement for full validation of a claim before payment, RPA is unable to make interim payments other than in exceptional circumstances, for example, hardship cases.

Rural Payments Agency

Baroness Byford: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost of compensating for cases in which Rural Payments Agency systems have failed.

Lord Davies of Oldham: RPA does not record separate information on consolatory or compensatory payments relating to system failure. The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	However, the total amount paid out by RPA for compensation and consolatory ex-gratia payments between January 2006 and March 2010 is £133,202.06.

Trade Unions: Unite

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any full-time Unite representatives are employed in government departments or agencies.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The matter of granting facilities time to trade union representatives is delegated to departments. The information requested is not collected centrally.
	Departments grant trades union facilities time in line with the ACAS Code of Practice "Time off for Trades Union Duties and Activities". Available at http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2391

Trade Unions: Unite

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any government department has procured training from Unite; and, if so, at what cost.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: This procurement of training services is a matter for individual departments. The information requested is not collected centrally.

Trade Unions: Unite

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: To ask Her Majesty's Government which Unite national office holders have passes to government offices.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: Passes may be issued to those who are required to make frequent visits to specific government sites, subject to the usual security checks. To provide further information on the details of departmental pass systems-for example, who holds such passes, applicability and validity-would reduce the effectiveness of access controls and put departments at risk.

Transport Scotland

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment the Head of the Civil Service has made of the evidence given by the Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Executive to the Public Audit Committee of the Scottish Parliament regarding the departure of the Director General of Transport Scotland from his post; and whether they will consider what action might be appropriate.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: Staffing decisions of the post of Chief Executive of Transport Scotland are delegated to the Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Executive, who is also responsible as Principal Accountable Officer for decisions about whether Scottish Executive spending meets the required standards of propriety, regularity and value for money. The Head of the Civil Service notes that the Auditor General of Scotland has provided his unqualified opinion of Transport Scotland's accounts.